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BETTMAN GETS ANGRY ROENICK ALL WORKED UP
Friday, January 16, 2004
By CHUCK GORMLEY
Courier-Post Staff
VOORHEES
Flyers center Jeremy Roenick will serve his one-game suspension tonight and be docked more than $91,000 in pay for throwing a water bottle at referee Blaine Angus late in the Flyers' 6-2 loss Tuesday night in Buffalo.
Roenick vowed to get his money's worth and he did just that Thursday when he took aim at - of all people - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
On Wednesday, Bettman told a Toronto radio station that Angus should have called a high-sticking minor against Sabres defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick, an infraction that cost Roenick a tooth and seven stitches. Bettman also acknowledged that the $91,463.41, which represents 1/82 of Roenick's annual salary, is a "severe" penalty for throwing a water bottle. But Bettman also pointed out that the league could have given Roenick a three-game suspension for his actions.
That, of course, was enough to set off Roenick for the second time in as many days.
"He forgot that the NHL merged with the WWF and we hide razor blades in our pockets and cut ourselves so we can get calls," Roenick said after Thursday's practice at the Flyers Skate Zone. "Somebody better remind him we did that.
"I'm just surprised that you can get fined $91,000 for throwing a water bottle on the ice. It's like fining Gary Bettman $91,000 for throwing all those lies about the bargaining agreement coming up. He throws those around like they're candy. The NHLPA should fine him for those."
Roenick was referring to the ongoing negotiations between Bettman and NHL Players Association representative Bob Goodenow, during which Bettman has cited how many teams are losing money.
The league's current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in September and there's widespread belief there will be a work stoppage next season.!
Roenick has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $7.5 million a year and said he could afford to walk away from the game. But he wonders what kind of league allows a player to get high-sticked, then suspends him for it.
"I have 16 years in the league," he said. "If I don't play again after this year I've had a pretty good career. I'd live comfortably and have a good family. (Bettman's) still going to have to deal with a sputtering league. I've been here a long time. He's not intimidating me. He can say anything he wants. All I know is 10 years ago this league was pretty damn good. When did he come into term? "
Bettman took over as commissioner midway through the 1992-93 season. Since then, the NHL has expanded to 30 teams, many of which need to make the playoffs just to break even and most of which support a hard salary cap.
Friday, January 16, 2004
By CHUCK GORMLEY
Courier-Post Staff
VOORHEES
Flyers center Jeremy Roenick will serve his one-game suspension tonight and be docked more than $91,000 in pay for throwing a water bottle at referee Blaine Angus late in the Flyers' 6-2 loss Tuesday night in Buffalo.
Roenick vowed to get his money's worth and he did just that Thursday when he took aim at - of all people - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
On Wednesday, Bettman told a Toronto radio station that Angus should have called a high-sticking minor against Sabres defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick, an infraction that cost Roenick a tooth and seven stitches. Bettman also acknowledged that the $91,463.41, which represents 1/82 of Roenick's annual salary, is a "severe" penalty for throwing a water bottle. But Bettman also pointed out that the league could have given Roenick a three-game suspension for his actions.
That, of course, was enough to set off Roenick for the second time in as many days.
"He forgot that the NHL merged with the WWF and we hide razor blades in our pockets and cut ourselves so we can get calls," Roenick said after Thursday's practice at the Flyers Skate Zone. "Somebody better remind him we did that.
"I'm just surprised that you can get fined $91,000 for throwing a water bottle on the ice. It's like fining Gary Bettman $91,000 for throwing all those lies about the bargaining agreement coming up. He throws those around like they're candy. The NHLPA should fine him for those."
Roenick was referring to the ongoing negotiations between Bettman and NHL Players Association representative Bob Goodenow, during which Bettman has cited how many teams are losing money.
The league's current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in September and there's widespread belief there will be a work stoppage next season.!
Roenick has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $7.5 million a year and said he could afford to walk away from the game. But he wonders what kind of league allows a player to get high-sticked, then suspends him for it.
"I have 16 years in the league," he said. "If I don't play again after this year I've had a pretty good career. I'd live comfortably and have a good family. (Bettman's) still going to have to deal with a sputtering league. I've been here a long time. He's not intimidating me. He can say anything he wants. All I know is 10 years ago this league was pretty damn good. When did he come into term? "
Bettman took over as commissioner midway through the 1992-93 season. Since then, the NHL has expanded to 30 teams, many of which need to make the playoffs just to break even and most of which support a hard salary cap.
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